Should you desire to make formal your connection with the Episcopal Church (which means being
formally welcomed by our Bishop) then join a conversation class on Sundays after Church in October. Text Fr Phil: 908-894-0090

Prelude: Romanze -  Johannes Brahms
Opening Hymn: Praise to the Lord, the Almighty  
Gospel Hymn: Commit thou all that grieves thee                        
Offertory 8 am: Give praise and glory unto God                           
10 am: (Choir) Search me O God  - Lowell Mason                        
Missional Hymn: Judge eternal throned in splendor   
Postlude: Intermezzo  -  Johannes Brahms    

On October 28th, I will celebrate my 75th birthday. In recognition of that occasion, and because there were times in my past when food was a scarcity, I am offering THIS CHALLENGE TO ALL OF MY FRIENDS AND ACQUAINTANCES AT CHS.  I am asking you to bring in non-perishable food each week in October to fill the red wagon with 75 pounds of food.  Keeping the shelves at the pantry stocked is a passion of mine and I am grateful to the Higgins' and Schmidt's for taking over this mission.  If this challenge is met, it will mean a contribution of 300 pounds (or more) to the Food Pantry.

Check Julie and Katie's list each week or go to the  food pantry website for a list of needs.   They are still asking for donations of canned beef or pea soup & canned fruit for September & October. The hungry children, seniors and families of Hunterdon County and I thank you for giving of your time and treasure. 
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Thanks - Marge Keller. 

Are you cleaning out and have no idea what to do with your costume jewelry? We have the perfect home for all your earrings, necklaces, rings, bracelets, and pins! From November 3rd through November 24th, we will sell all donated costume jewelry after the 8:00am and 10:00am services. All monies earned will be donated to the church.

Starting September 15th, please bring in your items in boxes labeled with your name and telephone number. We appreciate small jewelry boxes we can use to display the pieces. There is a basket in the office where you can place your items.
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If you have any questions, please contact Floriene Garrabrant (908-782-6948), Marge Keller (908-391-5078), or Mary Scott (908-735-3614)

It’s time for a census — the “Quirinius” Census.
** No, not the 2020 nation-wide census. Our own Church of the Holy Spirit census.
To record all who are a part of CHS and to give our parish leadership more information about how to develop programs to reach as many as possible. To make it easy for newcomers to identify themselves.      

SO: we’ve developed an online Community Sign-up.

Introduction:
Help us include you in our common life! This form is to help us get to know you     better and to welcome you and your family into the community of Church of the Holy Spirit. We want to be sure you feel included in our common mission across the seasons of the Church Year, so accurate records are vital in keeping our communications meaningful and efficient.

Since each of us is a unique individual, beloved of God, you are asked to have a separate entry for each member of your family.

All information provided will be used only by Church of the Holy Spirit, not published, and never provided to anyone else.
        
The deadline to gather this information is October 15, 2019, so please go to the website and enter your information as soon as possible.

If there are other members of your family who are part of CHS, even if they are not living at home, please encourage them to do the same.  We ask the parents of small children to complete the sign-up for them. We want all included!

Here’s how to do it: Go to the Church of the Holy Spirit website on your computer, tablet or smartphone https:// www.churchholyspirit.org Click on “About Us”, then “Who We Are”, then “Community Sign-up”. (Or go directly to https://www.churchholyspirit.org/community-sign-up.html ) Enter your information. Please respond to all the items. Click “Submit”. You’re done! Start over with other family members who are too young to do it themselves.

 **FUN FACT: Fr. Philip like to call this the Quirinius census, from the passage in St. Luke’s gospel “In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.”

We have an occasion for which we would like to have a “coffee and cookie” reception.

Friday November 1, All Saints/confirmation.  This would be after the service, so about 9PM.

We want to keep both simple, so COOKIES AND BAR COOKIES—strictly finger foods, nothing that requires cutting (pies or cakes) or the use of forks or is messy to eat.

For November 1, a mix of sweet and savory would be appropriate.

If you or someone you know, can help with either event (or both), please contact me by email, text or call. My email is  marge.keller@comcast.net

Marge Keller

On July 26, 2019, our very own Aaron Murray will be the proud recipient of "The Duke of Edinburgh Award".   This prestigious award is earned through grit and determination and Aaron is to be congratulated on this wonderful achievement.  It will be presented to Aaron during World Scouting Jamboree at Summit Bechtel Reserve, where Aaron is working for the summer.
 
This award was founded in the United Kingdom in 1956 by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and now covers 144 nations throughout the world.  Google it - it is a great honor!  A note of congratulations to Aaron would show him CHS is behind him all the way. Follow the Jamboree on Facebook!
Aaron Murray
Summit Operations Center
2550 Jack Furst Dr.
Glen Jean, WV 25846-1100. 

In his Report to the Congregation on Growth and Discipleship, Fr. Philip 

• Commended the diocesan help of the Rev. Cn. Rob Droste, Canon for Congregational Development, for leading the evening in developing a shared understanding of discipleship.
• Observed that the diocesan statement on discipleship - "The purpose of the Church is to form disciples of Jesus Christ who participate in God's mission of reconciliation" bears much similarity to the Church of the Holy Spirit's mission statement "Our mission is to know Christ as we serve others, proclaim God's love, and grow in the the Spirit."
• Felt joy and admiration when the event's participants were able to recite the mission statement "as if it were a well-known prayer we say on Sunday", and at the surprise registered by Fr. Droste.
• Was moved by a participant's honest confession of not feeling able to offer help to deepen another's discipleship, and the immediate response by others of how in fact that person had helped others. Fr. Droste confirmed that "we don't need to know more Bible, or more theological sophistication, or more knowledge about Church history to be helpful and have a role in making disciples or deepening the discipleship of others.
• Observed that knowing our mission, feeling called, and having everything we need to help others, perhaps our mission is not merely to "know" Christ, but in fact to "follow" Christ, with minds, hearts and lives.
• Noted that over the course of the evening, six areas emerged for aligning parish planning and activities:

               Intentionally developing personal spirituality
               Recklessly fostering heartfelt connection
               Remembering to fully listen with compassion
               Serving generously and being courageously inclusive
               Sharing faith creatively, telling our story
               Worshiping boldly, joyfully and with purpose

• And noted that there is before us a new start, so we have some more work to do.

Read the entire document here >

We had a wonderful, enlightening, and thoughtful discussion on June 23rd about "All the Light We Cannot See."  While it certainly was extremely well-written, the general consensus was that, like war, it was a pretty grim work.  

Our next selection is one that Father Phil suggested, "Cutting for Stone," by Ethiopian-born, Indian-American medical doctor and author, Abraham Verghese.  This is the story of conjoined, twin brothers, orphaned by their mother's death at birth and forsaken by their father.  Born in Addis Ababa, they are separated medically, and the novel focuses on their upbringing by two doctors and their subsequent paths in life.  Verghese weaves their stories with the past half-century of Ethiopia's. The book was on the New York Times bestseller list for two years and, while quite lengthy, promises to be a great read.

Because of summer schedules, we decided to order the books kit to arrive at CHS on August 18, with the group meeting October 20 for our discussion.